The video above is a good primer for tournament karate. You’ll notice that the key skills required are speed, distancing, and timing. While the techniques are full power and full extension, what you won’t see is uncontrolled violence. Since, as a sport, karatedo’s goal is to build confidence and a format for fun competition, it is important to note that those goals are totally different from the “martial” goals of self defense. So while tournaments have value in terms of preparation, focus, competition, etc. they should not be seen as anything like a “real” fight. It is important to see tournaments and self defense as two separate ideas that require very different techniques and therefore different types of training. There is some cross over, but not much.

In traditional tournaments such as those hosted by the JKA look for scoring determined by speed, focus, finishing, timing, full power, full extension, and full control. In some cases a technique may result in a throw followed quickly by a scoring technique, usually a punch. In tournaments, just like judo, tennis, boxing, etc. the goal is to win. Winning in tournament karate is done by achieving more points than your partner before time expires. There are normally 3 judges. Two corner judges that are seated and one head judge who is in the competition areas with the contestants. Points are awarded as one point, two points, or three points per qualified techniques. You will often see one competitor wearing a red belt. This is not a rank but simply a visual way to assign scores as each corner judge holds two flags (one red and the other white or blue) to indicate who scored.

In this video you will see Frank Brennen who was the dominant tournament competitor in Great Britain during the 1980′s. In my opinion he along with Frank Smith, Shihan Kenneth Funakoshi, Shihan Kanazawa and a very few others represented perhaps what could be called a more “realistic” approach to tournaments. He was a champion not only in sparring (kumite) but also in forms (kata). That is a feat almost unheard of today. Note in particular the multiple techniques and the presence of well executed blocks. Again these are almost non-existent in today’s modern tournaments. I have often thought that more points should be awarded for the successful block(s) followed by a counter than for simply attacking all the time. Note that in many of the tournaments there were no gloves or other protective gear used. This was due to the extreme reliance on respect between competitors and the trust they placed in one another. Again, in the modern era this is almost unheard of any more.

At The Dojo we train to uphold this tradition of respect, control and a strong competitive spirit. While kumite is not the sum total of Karate-do, it is a very vital element. Karatedo, ends with the suffix “do” – which means way of life. This is distinct from “jutsu” which means techniques of violent destruction or war. Karatedo is not a means by which to be violent. It is a means by which to transform our approach to conflict – be that physical or mental. It is a “way” of learning to see clearly while under intense pressure and to respond with neither aggression nor timidity.